Flin Flon, meet your new overtime hero. Drew Kuzma sealed Game 2 in overtime for the Bombers Saturday night, giving Flin Flon a stranglehold on the series.
The Bombers will leave the Elgar Petersen Arena with two big road playoff wins, beating Humboldt 3-2 in extra time.
Humboldt opened the scoring midway through the first period, with Jerzy Orchard scoring his first of the series, tipping in a point shot by Alex Morozoff. The Bombers, who got a powerplay less than 30 seconds after Orchard's goal, would strike to tie it up.
Drew Kuzma was in the right place at the right time later, with a Zak Smith shot bouncing off his leg in the crease, deflecting it past Humboldt's Rayce Ramsay. Broncos players tried to argue that Kuzma kicked the puck in, but a replay of the goal showed the bounce was incidental.
Back and forth action continued into the second. Flin Flon's Kylynn Olafson got two minutes late in the second for goaltender interference, after he and Humboldt defenceman Cody Hough collided chasing down a loose puck and Olafson went careening into Ramsay. The Bombers would kill the penalty off, thanks to a string of blocked shots and stick lifts, particularly from top defence pairing Cole Vardy and Xavier Lapointe. The game would remain tied one-all after 40 minutes.
The Bombers would take the lead early in the third period, with a Lapointe point shot zigging through the slot when the Broncos expected a zag and ending up on Smith's stick. He would fire it past Ramsay, giving the Bombers a 2-1 advantage.
Midway through the third, Humboldt would tie it up. Connor McGrath found open ice on the far side and beat Bomber netminder Cal Schell far-side, tying things up.
No further offence would come during regulation time. Overtime would be required.
Nine minutes into the overtime period, Kuzma rushed into the zone with reinforcements but was able to end the night himself, sneaking a wide shot through Ramsay, scoring his second goal of the night and sending most of the 1,276 fans in the stands home mad.
Schell made 35 saves for his second straight victory, while Ramsay stopped 40 shots.
The Bombers will head back to the Whitney Forum for Games 3 and 4 next week having won both games on the Broncos' home ice. After a multi-day pause, Flin Flon will host those games April 8 and 9.
Both SJHL semifinals are now 2-0 series - Estevan added a second straight win by beating the Terriers 3-1 Saturday night, sending the series to Yorkton next week with the Bruins fully in control.
